I really dont think an EBF baby NEEDS solids before a year. Before a year its just practice.

I started solids with my DS at 4 months. He was ready. I was a new mom.

When I had DD...she wasnt ready so I waited until I thought she was ready..which was like 11.5 months old. At 6 months when the ped asked i told him that she wasnt ready. We didnt see him again, until a year so it wasnt a big deal for us.

I dont plan on starting solids until nearly a year again this time. I will if the baby shows interest. But if he shows no interest, I am not going to push him.

IMO and the opinion of most medical associations, your instincts are right. Breastfed babies should be exclusively breastfed until at least 6 mos. This weblink has links to the policy about solids for all of the associations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Thanks for the great website Heather! I shared it with DH to get him on my "team" about this. He's usually all about doing exactically as the Dr says. He totally freaked out when I told him I wanted to have a midwife with our last baby! LOL! He guess he got his way since was a preemie anyways. But he is totally okay w/ me staying away from solids for another couple months at least. Thanks again the site was very informative!

I talkd to my ped just the other day after I posted a question here and she said formula feeding and breastfeeding babies do not need solids until 6 months and she said even then they do not NEED them.

It is more of a new experience then anything else. She said all babies unless there is a medical reason can survive on formula or breastmilk until 1 yr and she said if my baby seems more hungry..just make a bigger bottle or breastfeed more depending on your feeding method. she said there really is no need to start solids before 6 months or even after.

__________________
Multiple final warnings, yet still using inappropriate avatars and posts

All babies are different. I was determined to wait until Ds was 6 months to start solids. He was showing signs of being ready around 4 months, but I didn't start giving him solids until a week ago (he's 6 months today). But it was so obvious that he had been ready for awhile, and instead of going by a textbook answer and not giving him anything until 6 months, I should've gone by my instincts and given him solids when he was ready. But being a first time mom is a learning curve. I'll know better next time.

__________________

Tiffani wife of Wes 11/16/02, Partner of Jamie and David
SAHM to Xander 4/5/06, Jaime 1/20/09,
and Malcolm 11/15/10

every baby is different- heck I had 2 at the same time and they do EVERYTHING at different times! One started solids right before 6 mos and the other a few weeks after.
Oh, and a BF baby will more likely take to mashed banana or avocado instead of cereal, as breastmilk is sweet tasting and cereal willtaste bland.
thats my la-leche-leagueness talking though LOL
danielle